Combination stretcher and mountaineer&#39;s back pack frame



Feb. 16, 1960 G. D. HANKlNs COMBINATION STRETCHER AND MOUNTAINEERS BACK PACK FRAME Filed April 9. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 George Feb. 16, 1960 G. D. HANKlNs COMBINATION STRETCHER AND MOUNTAINEERS BACK PACK FRAME Filed April 9. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENF OR GeOIp'e ATTORNEY fum.. s. y

COMBINATION STRETC-IER AND `MOUN- i TAINEERS BACK PACK FRAME George D. Hankins, Albuquerque, N.Mex. Applicatipp April 9, 195s, serial Np..727,341

Claims.A j (Cl. 5-82) ,and collapsed vsoas to form neat and useful frames analogous to a mountaineers back pack frame.

Another object of the invention consists in provldlng a field type stretcher which is capable of ,being converted stares Patent 0 into other useful articles in addition to `Vthe fpack frame just mentioned.

' Other objects and advantages of the-invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figurel is a bottom plan view of one of the sections of a two-part iield stretcher in collapsed condition;f

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are transverse sectional views on the lines 2 2, 3 3, and 4 4, respectively, of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 5 5 `of Figure l;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of one ofthe stretcher sectionsin laterally extended condition with a cover sheet mountedrthereonvand laced to the side rails in a'conventional manner;

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views on the lines 7 7 and 8 8 of Figure 6;

Fig. 9 is a more or less diagrammatic plan view showing one of the stretcher sections in collapsed condition and the handles, etc., about to be placed within portions Vof the frame;

` 1 indicates one of the sections of the field stretcher illustrated herein, it being understood that two of these sections are to be united end-to-end in forming a complete stretcher as shown in Figure l2. Each section comprises two side rails 2 and two skid rails 3, each of these rails being of hollow tubular construction as clearly indicated in sectional views of Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The side rails '2 of each section are connected together in spaced relationship by means of four cross-members 4 equally spaced longitudinally of the section. Each cross-member 4 comprises a hollow tubular rod 5 and another rod 6 telescopically received therein. Each of the rods 5 and 6 is of arcuate formation as clearly indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8. Alternate hollow rods 5 have one end permanently connected to a side rail 2 and the other hollow rods 5 have one end permanently connected to the other side rail 2. Likewise, the arcuate rods 6 are alternately connected to the side rails 2 so as rice to cooperate with their corresponding hollow rods 5, as more clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Each section of the stretcher frame is also provided with the hollow skid rails 3,-as heretofore mentioned, which are connected permanently to the free ends of alternate hollow rods 5 as indicated by the numeral 7 in Figure 6. It will thus be seen that the side rails 2 and the skid rails 3 are so Vconnected to the cross-members 4 that they are free to be telescoped or extended in the manner shown in Figs. l to 8, inclusive. The skid rails 3, which are, of course, intended to form rests for supporting the stretcher on the ground or lioor, also serve to facilitate the manipulation of the stretcher over rocks or the like in rough terrain. Those portions of the skid rails which are not permanently connected to the hollow rods 5, are slidably connected thereto by eyes 8 for reenforcement purposes.

The canvas or other covering for the frame of each of the stretcher sections is indicated by the numeral 9and is provided with conventional hems 10 along the longitudinal edges for the reception of rods 11, and the canvas and rods are secured in position on the frame by conventional lacing 12. Additionally, the frame is pro-vided Awith loops and rings 13 and 14 which form attaching points for any suitable harness for securing the frame to the body of the wearer.

The rods 11 which are associated with the canvas covering 9 may be stored in the hollow side rails 2, or in the skid rails 3. However, in Fig. 9, these rods 11 are shown in alignment with the side rails 2 ready for projection and storage in these side rails. In this same ligure, joining rods 15, of which there are four in number, are shown as ready for projection and storage within the skid rails 3. These joining rods are shown in their operative position in Figure l0 where they are positioned in the contiguous ends of side rails 2 of two aligned sections of the stretcher and are secured in such position by means of pins 16, which thereby lock the two sections of the stretcher together while maintaining the joining rods in position. Similar joining rods 15 and pins 16 are also provided for the skid rails 3, as shown in Figure 10. As indicated in Figure 12, handle bars or rods 17 are provided, so that the stretcher may be more readily handled, and these hand grips are inserted in the outer ends of the connected side rails 2 of the stretcher and may be secured in position therein by pins 18. The hand grips 17, as well as the joining rods 15, may be stored in the skid rails 3, it being understood, of course, that they may be secured in one or other of the two sections which form the complete stretcher. These rails, as Well as the rods 11, may be secured in their stored position within the side rails and skid rail by means of the pins 16 and 18 referred to above.

In Figure 11, one of the two sections of the stretcher is shown as being mounted on the back of an individual in the form of a mountaineers back pack frame, and is held thereon by conventional harness 19, and a knapsack 20 is shown in position on the frame las illustrative ofhow the frame may be employed as a back pack frame.

In the foregoing description, the construction and op.- eration of the stretcher have been described in detail, but it is desired to point out additionally that the frame is constructed so as to permit of its being used as a ladder `if the two sections in collapsed condition are connected.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be` apparent to those skilled in the art that I have devised a simple and inexpensive construction of a sectional eld type stretcher,

kin which the sections ,may be yreadily contracted and formed into a frame analogous to a mountainees back pack frame for individual transportation, and that `the sections may be readilyv collapsed and providestorage spaces for various elements such as the stretcher rods for the *canvas coveringthe handlenand the joining rods, thereby occupying minimum storage space.

In laccordance with the patent laws, i have described what I believe to be the preferred form of the invention, but inasmuch as various minor detailsmay bemade without departing from the spirit of theiinvention, it is intended that all such alterations or modifications beV ineluded within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: y n Y 1, A sectional field type stretcher, each section-of which `comprises a pair of side rails and a pair of skid rails, ar-

cuate cross members spaced along te length of thesestion each cross member composed of two telescopically arranged rods, the outer ends of said rods being connecttherein, said cross members having their ends secured to the side rails, and connections. between the skid rails and the free ends of alternate hollow rods. Y

3. A sectional iield type stretcher, each section of which comprises -a pair of side rails and a pair of skid rails, arcuate cross members spaced along the length Aof the section, each cross member comprisingy an arcuate hollow rod and a second arcuaterod telescopically mounted therein, one skid rail beingvconnected to the free ends of alternate arcuate hollow rods, and the other skid rail being connected to the free ends of the other arcuate hollow rods.

4. A sectional collapsible iield type stretcher comprised of two sections, each section consisting of a pair of side rails, arcuate cross members spaced along the length of the section, each cross member composed of two telescopically arranged arcuate rods, the outer ends of said rodsbeing connected Vto said'side rails, the rods of each cross member being fully telescoped when the section is collapsed so as to reduce the section to substantially one-half its normal width.

- 5. A sectional collapsible ieldtype stretcher comprised of two sections, each section consisting of a pair of side rails and ak pair of skid rails, arcuate cross members spaced along the length of the section, each cross member composed of two telescopically arranged arcuate rods, the outer ends of said rods beingcfmnected to said side rails, the rods of each crossk member being fully telescoped when the section is collapsed so as to reduce the section to substantially one-half its normal width, saidl skid rails being connected to alternate cross members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Germany Jan. 22,1931 

